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RegalTDP

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Posts posted by RegalTDP

  3. So-called "Exodus" of businesses downtown - Is a crisis brewing?

    in Grand Rapids

    Posted

    Posting this here because we’ve brought up crime in this thread as having an impact on businesses.

     Homicide is down nationwide so far this year compared to 2023.

     Grand Rapids is on the list, with a big fat zero in homicides so far. Even Detroit has a pretty sharp decrease.

    https://www.wsj.com/us-news/murder-rates-down-new-york-san-francisco-philadelphia-508b6855?st=2fkt047y43fn97i&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

     

    • Like 1

  5. People talking about Grand Rapids

    in Grand Rapids

    Posted · Edited by RegalTDP

    I don't think it's an ad but it REALLY reads like ChatGPT wrote it.  When I see sentences like:

    Quote

    Some cities grow especially because of one industry, like Charlotte with banking or Salt Lake City with enterprise tech, Grand Rapids has the benefit of being one of the most diversified portfolios in the country.

    ...I'm like, OK, yes those are words strung together to form a proper sentence, but it's still "off" in a way I can't explain.  I mean, enterprise tech?

    That doesn't answer the question of why they chose to highlight GR, but it’s Forbes, after all.  I'm pretty sure we've joked on this thread before about how Forbes has a weird crush on our city.

    • Like 1

  6. Suburban Projects

    in Grand Rapids

    Posted

    2 hours ago, MJLO said:

    I actually think it’s more a case of woodland has always been better positioned.  It is next to the demographics that have the highest disposable incomes on this side of Michigan. Rivertown was a novelty when it opened.  Woodland always had the better location. 

    I agree 100% that location is key but I also believe Woodland understood it would have to fight to stay relevant and they have been doing an outstanding job.   Breton Village too.  It didn't have to turn out this way.  When you think about Knapp's Corner, that whole area sprang up to be accessible to the upper-income families in Forest Hills; 25 years later it has not been built out even close to its potential.  I remember 15 years ago they even thought of putting a third mall there, and nothing happened.

    I'm not ready to pull the plug on Rivertown yet; it will not be the most fashionable place to be, but it will still be viable.  It serves a growing area, and it still has a lot of stores.  To me, a big problem is that they designed it with six freaking anchors and all the big department stores are in trouble.  Who knows for how much longer we'll even have JC Penney and Macy's, despite their ever-desperate efforts to bring customers in.  I don't think they'll ever be able to keep all six anchors filled, and if they're going to redesign the mall I would start with knocking some of them down.

    • Like 1

  8. Soccer Stadium

    in Grand Rapids

    Posted

    1 hour ago, joeDowntown said:

    I’d much rather watch a match between Detroit, Indy or Louisville than LA Galaxy 2 or Orlando City B (can’t believe those are the actual team names).

    Not only are those dumb names for sports teams, they also make life more confusing!  I once wound up going to an LA Galaxy II game because our friends bought the wrong tickets by accident.  It's an easy mistake to make when purchasing your tickets online, especially if you don't know about the farm system.

    • Like 1

  9. Grand Rapids Restaurant Rumor Mill

    in Grand Rapids

    Posted · Edited by RegalTDP

    Since we got sushi on the mind, I think GR is ready for conveyor belt sushi, which IMO is the ultimate sushi experience, and needs to be a bigger thing in the US.  I think Kura is the biggest US chain, and they only have a few locations (but they have 2 in Detroit).

    • Like 3

  10. Suburban Projects

    in Grand Rapids

    Posted

    5 hours ago, GR8scott said:

    Definitely needed and good infill in that area but seems like a shortsighted waste of the corner section for what looks like a retention pond, could be located on the other side of the property and that area used for commercial like a convenience store 

    Question for the civil engineers in this forum:  Is there an infrastructural reason for putting retention ponds by the road?  Or is it an aesthetic landscaping choice?  Seems like a lot of large suburban developments do this.  Or maybe Wyoming's zoning won't allow for commercial developments there.  I agree with GR8Scott as I would think there's a lot of traffic at this intersection coming up from M-6. 

    • Like 1
    • Popular Post
    • Popular Post

    Soccer Stadium

    in Grand Rapids

    Posted · Edited by RegalTDP

    6 hours ago, joeDowntown said:

    I love the idea that there could soon be tall buildings on both sides of the expressway (as both most likely will be on the west side of US-131. 

    Joe

    😜 Westsiders coming for Joe after that statement:

    image.jpeg.52e16ed634bc11af94c23cf461008bc1.jpeg

    • Haha 9

  12. Predictions for the coming year

    in Grand Rapids

    Posted

    On 1/2/2024 at 5:32 PM, WMrapids said:

    • Plans for Calder Plaza will be revealed for a completion date of Summer 2026 for semiquincentennial celebrations and the centennial anniversary of the city's "founding."

    Don't you mean bicentennial? 😀 By "founding" you're referring to Campau settling here in 1826 right?

    Predictions. Everyone always beats me to the good predictions so I don't have a lot.  I don't think I had any last year.

    --Corewell will throw a hissy fit when they don't get their way.  They'll spread rumors that they're thinking of making Southfield their HQ and Monroe Ave a "regional center."  They'll start airing ads about how much they love GR and being the area's top employer and so people better appreciate it.  They'll tear down the buildings in the middle of the night and dare the city to do something about it.  In the end I think they will get their parking (I hope to be wrong).

    --More of a long-term prediction than just 2024, but longer term KCM's spotlight in the NYT was just the beginning.  Good Asian food is moving into the midwest and GR is going to keep getting some more great options.

    --Dave's Hot Chicken will go in Breton Village or 28th Street.  I'd love to see it on Wealthy or Bridge though.

    --Concur with everyone that West Leonard is the new hot spot for more infill construction.  Also more housing will be announced along the river.  I just hope it'll be tall.

    --This site will finally recognize that I'm not a G**damn robot.  I could swear I've ID'd every single traffic light that exists in this world.  Is Rick Deckard is going to bust in my room and kill me if I get one wrong? 😜

    • Thanks 1
    • Haha 3

  15. New projects on the West Side

    in Grand Rapids

    Posted

    2 hours ago, joeDowntown said:

    Found a rendering (it was approved today for ORPA funding): 

    Screenshot 2023-12-05 at 5.19.51 PM.png

    I'd say it's not great / lacking, but we need additional housing, so [shrug]. I don't like feeling like "it sucks, but it fills a need". Seems like we could fill a need, AND do better.

    Wonder how many people will try to walk in people's front door?!. It looks (and sounds) like a hair salon, or maybe a veterinary clinic [woof]. :)

    Joe

    image.png.e4c8e8411d6d885b1a89cefbaee0ea0f.png 

    • Like 1

  17. People talking about Grand Rapids

    in Grand Rapids

    Posted

    2 hours ago, Pattmost20 said:

    Malcolm Gladwell mentioned Grand Rapids on his podcast a couple months ago.

    The exact quote was: 

    "I've been to Manilla, Hong Kong, Las Vegas, Washington DC, Detroit, and Grand Rapids in just the last month. And if you're wondering, my favorite of all those places, not even close: Grand Rapids. Love Grand Rapids. Why doesn't everyone live in Grand Rapids? I don't get it."

    I know he was in town for Tech Week. Cool to hear he enjoyed the city so much. 

    I would definitely choose Grand Rapids out of those five in September.  Absolute perfect time to be in Michigan.

  20. Suburban Projects

    in Grand Rapids

    Posted

    1 hour ago, thebeerqueer said:

    Somehow I missed this but the first Warby Parker on the west side of the state opens this weekend. https://stores.warbyparker.com/mi/grand-rapids/1964-breton-rd.-se

    Pretty impressive with how well Breton Village has been doing at attracting new trendy brands to GR, even while we talk about Rivertown's downhill slide.  I know it has the advantage of EGR being a more upscale part of town; but, Breton Village was a pretty sad place itself not too long ago, and now it's bringing stores to the area that GR otherwise wouldn't have.

    • Like 1

  21. Grand Rapids lottery jackpot Civc ideas?

    in Grand Rapids

    Posted · Edited by RegalTDP

    2 hours ago, Zads said:

    3. I'd go back in time (yes, this exists in my reality that I win this much money) and convince the Whitecaps to build a new ballpark at Wealthy and Butterworth.

    If time travel is in play, I'm going to back to the '30s to prevent the dismantling of the streetcar network.

    • Like 4

  24. New projects on the West Side

    in Grand Rapids

    Posted

    4 hours ago, joeDowntown said:

    I was on the CARWM site, and noticed this proposed building. Looks like it's on the land Sovengard initially wanted to build on before buying the building across the street. Could be a total speculative project that never happens, or maybe that section of Bridge will see new life once Sovengard is up and running?

     

    6254f12ee6634b000178522c_snapshot.png

    6413259a5a2f070007c3864d_elevation_2.png

    6413259a5a2f070007c3864e_elevation_1.png

    I feel like that glass tower is only there for the purpose of trolling JBAN.  The way that it might juuuusssst barely peak over the tree canopy will drive them out of their minds.

    • Haha 2
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